The dangers and duties of the present crisis! : a discourse delivered in the Union Church, St. Louis, January 4, 1861 / Page: 16 of 18
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sanctity and authority, and denounces them as agents of a lawless
infidelity.
No, it is the proclamation and enforcement of that gospel whose
very spirit is peace on earth and good will to men. It blesses the
peace-makers, and calls them the sons of God, and spreads harmony
and love between man and man, by reconciling all to God, and makes
us brothers by making us all the sons of God-and teaches forbear-
ance and mercy by revealing a sympathizing Savior and a merciful
God and Father of all. I fear that many have an entire misconcep-
tion of our religion. Contrast the boast of the early apologists for
christianity with that of these men. They said our religion is peace.
Its reception restores harmony. Bring us the bitterest enemies, and at
the feet of Jesus they shall become brothers. But the conduct of many
modern professors of this faith put into language is: We will fire
your hearts with hate-put instruments of cruelty into your hands ar.d
send you out to empurple the soil with yonr brother's blood. Yet the
gospel, rightly received, is exquisitely adapted to this work of peace
that its apologists claim for it. It is the master-piece of infinite wis-
dom and love. It enlightens the mind, purifies the head, and subdues
the will, and puts man right with his fellowman by putting him right with
his God. Paul knew its efficacy. He had tried its power in Antioch,
Ephesus, Corinth and Athens-the centers of the world's sin. And he
was willing and eager to try it at Rome also. To the proud, rich, imperial,
corrupt Romans he said "as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the
Gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the
Gospel of Christ. For it is the wisdom and power of God unto salva-
tion to every onethat believeth." It is adapted to all-ofered to all, and
has proved its efficacy in every case in which it has been accepted. Paud
himself was an example. His appeal to the efficacy of the Gospel was "
no empty boast. It has all its efficacy yet undiminished ; Christ can still
save to the uttermost. If all sinful passions were entrenched in one
heart, Christ has power to cast out the legion of devils and reign there
shedding love and peace abroad.
Look at the precepts that this system carries with it and makes
obligatory on all its followers, high and low, rich and poor, governor and
governed. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and hy neighbor as hy-
self." "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them." And then "forgive your enemies." "Do good to them that
hate you and despitefully use you." And then it hallows this duty by
making a profession of it a part of our most solemn and intimate ap-
proaches to the Searcher of hearts: "Forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those that trespass against us."
And the reason of this superior efficacy is easily seen. Law attempts
not to cure the diseases of society-but to confine their manifestation
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Anderson, S. J. P., (Samuel James Pierce), 1841-1873. The dangers and duties of the present crisis! : a discourse delivered in the Union Church, St. Louis, January 4, 1861 /, pamphlet, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth497972/m1/16/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Schreiner University.